Crumbing mechanism for excavating machines



Oct. 13, 1959 f J. w. SPRING 2,908,091

CRUMBING MECHANISM FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES A TTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1959 J. w. SPRING 2,903,091

l CRUMBING MECHANISM FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 14, 195e 3 sheets-sheet 2 @l 1 INVENTOR. l JOHN W. SPaiNa ATroRNfryS Oct. 13, 1959 J. w. YsPmNc.: 2,908,091

CRUMBING MECHANISM FOR EXCAVATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 14. 1958 3 SheetsfSheet 3 1NVENTOR. JOHN W. Spams ATTORNEYS v operation.

United States Patent iiice 2,908,091 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 John W. Spring, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Trencher Company, Cleveland, tion of Ohio Application August 14, 195s, serial No. 755,010

9 claims. (cl. s7-s0) Ohio, a corpora- This invention relates in general to improvements in trench excavating or ditching machines and more particul-arly to a wheel type 'trench excavating machine having an improved crumbing mechanism which may be selectively and expeditiously moved to and from active position.

Crunrbing mechanisms for excavating machines are known in the art and include a crumbing shoe secured to the outer end of the boom of the excavating machine. This shoes extends downwardly from the boom to the oor of the trench or excavation and is so shaped so as to shove or propel loose material on the floor of the trench forwardly, so that it may be picked up by the excavating buckets of the machine and removed from the trench, thereby maintaining theiloor of the trench comparatively clean. Such crumbing mechanism also helps in maintaining a constant grade trench bottom by stabilizing the digging unit at its depth of operation. It is also known in the art to swingably mount such crumbing mechanism on the outer end of the boom for pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane, so that the crumbing shoe can be selectively moved into and out of active position, thus providing for raising of the shoe clear of the trench, and thereby increasing the positioning characteristics of the machine. When it is necessary or desirable to have the digging Wheel of the excavating machine dig straight downwardly, the crumbing shoe must be swung rearwardly and upwardly to etect its clearance above the unexcavated ground. When the digging wheel has reached full depth and has proceeded forwardly a sutlicient distance to provide room in the trench for the crumbing shoe, the wheel is generally raised and then the crumbing shoe is lowered and locked in position, after which the digging proceeds. Various mechanisms have been utilized in the past for so pivoting and maintaining the crumbing shoe out of operating position, with all of such mechanism generally necessitating a considerable amount of manual operations to eiect the proper positioning of the crumbing shoe. Some such mechanisms that have been used are cables and cranks, geared winding drums for power activation of the crumbing mechanism and/or levers and the like for manual None of the latter arrangements have been found to be completely satisfactory and have been found either to be undependable in operation, bulky and unduly space consuming in nature and/or awkward and time consuming in the accomplishment ofthe desired function.

The present invention provides a novel, relatively cornpact crumbing mechanism for excavating machines which is hydraulic actuated, thereby providing for the rapid and selective positioning of the crumbing shoe by the operator of the machine and which is expeditiously controllable from the operators work area on the machine, thus, greatly reducing the labor and time involved in such operations. In general the present arrangement provides a rotation multiplying linkage in combination with a reciprocable, hydraulically powered motor unit, for effectively and expeditiously swinging the crumbing shoe greatly increasing the maneuverability of the machine' and speed of excavating operations.

Accordingly, "an object of the invention is to provide an excavating machine embodying improved crumbing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an excavating machine of the latter type wherein such crumbing mechanism is hydraulically actuated for rapid and selective positioning of the crumbing shoe into and out of active position, and wherein such movement of the crumbing shoe may be eiectively controlled from the machine operators work area.

A further object of the `invention is to provide an excavating machine embodying crumbing mechanism having a rotation multiplying linkage arrangement for increasing the rotational range of the crumbing shoe of the machine in relation to Ithe corresponding movement of the driving or actuating motor unit or device of the crumbing mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an excavating machine including generally horizontally extending boom structure, .and embodying improved crumbing mechanism of the latter type, and wherein the crumbing mechanism may be :adjusted so as to operatively extend downwardly at various distances with respect to the boom structure and the associated excavating unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved crumbing mechanism which is comparatively uncomplicated in nature and which may be readily added to existing excavating machines or may be easily embodied in new machines, and which is adapted to be readily swingable into and out of active position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: f

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an excavating machine embodying the instant invention. j t

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view of the outer end of the boom and associated crumbing mechanism of Fig. l, and illustrates in greater detail the rotation multiplying linkage apparatus, and theme'chanisrn for adjusting the vertical position of the crumbing shoe with respect to the boom structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, however, thecrumbing shoe being disposed in a generally completely vertical position with respect to the boom. 'f

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, end elevational view taken generally from the right-hand side of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a trenching machine of the 'well known wheel-type, embodying the instant invention. Such an excavating or trenching machine broadly comprises a main frame 10 supported on suitable tractor treads 12, a main power plant or internal combustion engine 14 supported on the forward end of frame 10, mast structure 16 for supporting a vertically movable boom structure 18, lan excavating wheel or unit 20' rotatably mounted on boom. 18 by means of frame-and wheel arrangement 22 and 22a, and drivingly connected to the motor unit 14 of the machine by the chain and sprocket arrangement generally referred to by reference No. 24, and a transversely extending discharge conveyor 26'which is adapted to receivevmaterial from digging unitV 18 and carry it to either side of the machine. Boom structure 18 is pivotally mounted as at 28, for movement in a generally vertical plane, and may be raised and lowered on mast structure 16 by means of cable and pulley system 30 actuated by winding drums 32 and 34 mounted on the machine frame. It will be understood, of course,

that other structural arrangements and systems could be' utilized for controlling the movement of boom 18 and associated digging unit Ztrwithout departing from the scope of the invention. l

The controls Vrfor `operating the various components of the machine including the aforementioned main power plant 14, the winding drums 32 and 34, etc. may include the levers 36, 37, 38 and 39 as shown, with the latter beingA localized in `a particular area on the machine for convenient access by the'machine operator and from one general location.

The crumbing mechanism of the instant invention is generally indicated by reference No. 40, and as shown comprises an elongated generally arcuate shaped, in side elevation, box-like structure 42 generally known as a crumbing shoe, connected as -at 44 to cross-structure d8a of boom 18, a rotation multiplying linkage 46 operatively connected to the boom and to the crumbing shoe, and a reciprocal type, double acting, Vhydraulically actuated motor unit 48, mounted on the boom, and operativelyI connected to the rotation multiplying linkage 46.

Shoe ,-42 has a rearwardly extending ground engaging portion 50 pivotally mounted at one end, as at 52, to the lower end of the shoe proper and adjustably connected at its other end to the shoe by adjustable strap structure 54. Strap structure 54 includes vertically spaced openings 54a for receiving separable fastener element 54h therethrough, and thus adjustably maintaining portion or section 50 in predetermined position. The upper end of shoe `42 is recessed as at 56 (Fig. 2) and as aforementioned is pivotally mounted at 44 to the outer end of the boom by any suitable means, such as a separable rod or shaft member extending through the upper end of the shoe and through receiving openings 58 yin the transversely spaced supporting plates 60 which are xed tothe outer end of the boom structure 18. lt will be seen that the axis of rotation of the crumbing shoe 42 may be changed by mounting pivot pin or shaft 44 in any selected one of the vertically spaced openings S8 in plate 60. The lower portion60avof each plate 60 is offset in a forward direction, as may be clearly seen from Fig. 2, and comprises va plurality of vertically spaced generally aligned openings `62 therein for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Secured to the outer or rearward end surface of crumbing shoe 42 are a plurality of transversely spaced threaded elements `64, such as bolts, which extend through openings in and adjustably mount U-shaped bracket member 66 on the shoe. Nut elements 64a coact with the associated bolt to maintain bracket element 66 in predetermined position. The free ends of the arm sections 66a of bracket 66 are provided with transversely extending openings 66b, which are adapted for alignment with a correspondingly one of the aforementioned apertures 62 in lower section 60a of plates `60 when the crumbing shoe is in operative position with respect to boom structure 118. A rod or fastener is adapted to be inserted through openings 62 and 66b when the latter are in aligned condition for maintaining the crumbing mechanism in fully operative position, and relieving the hydraulic motor unit 48 of any stress during work operations by the machine. Y

The hydraulic motor unit 48 is pivotally mounted on one end, as at 68, to a side of boom 18, with thea piston rod 70 of the motor unit being pivotally secured, as at 72, to crank member 74 of the rotation multiplying linkage 46. Crank 74 is secured to a shaft 76 which is rotatably mounted on the boom structure 18 by means of bearing mechanism 78, 'which may be of more or less conventional type, and which-in the embodiment illustrated includes split bearing structure 78a. A rearwardly extending lifter arm 8i) is secured at one-end to shaft 76 and at its outer end is pinned or pivoted as at 82 to lifter or draglink 84, which is in turn pivoted as at 86 to a bracket 88 securedto the outer or rearward end surface 92 may be connected erated shut-olf valve,

Vextension of the piston rod through its full stroke.

of shoe 42. The outer `end of link 84 is provided with a plurality of openings 84a. therein for receiving the pin 82 in the event that theaxis o'f rotation of the crumbiing shoe 42 is changed from its uppermost pivot opening 58 in plates 60, as illustrated, to a lower one of such openings, and as aforediscussed.

Upon the supplying the hydraulic motor unit 48 with hydraulic working fluid, as by means of feed line 90, which is connected to a suitable source of fluid, Athe piston rod 70 of motor runit 48 is projected outwardly from its kassociated cylinder thereby rotating crank 74, associated shaft 76, and lifter arm V secured to the shaft. Upon rotation of the arm 80, the crumbing shoe is caused to rotate about its pivotal axis 44 bythe pull on drag link 84. AIt will be seen that the pivotal connection 86 of the lifter link 84 to the shoe 42- moves in a path upwardly and around the pivotal connection 44 of the crumbing shoe 42 to the boom structure 18, and an amount( so as to provide pivotal movement of the crumbing shoe in excess .of 180 degrees angularly from the Voperative position shown in full lines to the inoperative position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. l. In the latter inoperative position, the crumbing mechanism is disposed out of the way of the rearward end of boom stnucture 18, and the center of gravity of the crumbing mechanism is preferably disposed forwardly of a vertical plane passing through a pivotal axis of the crumbing shoe to the boom` structure, Ithereby aiding in maintaining lthe crumbing mechanism in its non-operative, pivoted position. A bracket 91 (Fig. 2) mounting an adjustable threaded bolt 91a and a lock nut 91b thereon is preferably provided for adjustably limiting'the pivotal Lmovement of the boom out of operative position, to

thereby prevent the folding of the rotation -rnultiplying linkage Vto a'point where retraction of the piston rod 70 of `motor unit 48 would be difficult or impossible. In this connection, the shank end of bolt 91a is adapted to engage the confronting surface of drag link 84 `to so limit the pivotal movement of the crumbing shoe. Upon supplying working fluid via feed line 92 to the opposite end of the cylinder of motor unit 48, Vthe piston rod is retracted and the crumbing shoe is quickly caused to pivot downwardly towards its operative position. y

The motor unit 48 and associated feed lines 90 and through a conventional handV opas for instance diagrammatically illustrated valve mechanism 93, to a source of supply (of workingrfluid, such as for instance a pump mounted on the excavating machine frame and operativelyY connected to the main power unit 14 of the machine in a manner Well known to those skilled in the art. The operating valve -for the hydraulic system controlling motor unit 48 is preferably located in the machine .operators work area in the vicinity ofthe aforementioned control levers 36, 37, 38 and 39, and as shown, thereby permitting the machine operator to control the movement of the crumbingshoe in an expeditious manner.

In an embodiment of the invention as illustrated, a convenient arrangement has been found to be a piston Yrod 7 0 having approximately a lZ-inch stroke and Ywhererotated approximately degrees upon Such 90 degree rotation of crank '714 produces Vover 180 degrees of rotation of the crumbing shoe 42 through the rotation multiplying linkage 46, thereby providing for sufficient and positive movement ofthe crumbing shoe mechanism and in a manner which doesnot require non-practical sized components for actuation thereof. Byvarying the lengths of the various movement arms off the rotation multiplying linkage, various degrees of rotation multiplication may be obtained. i i Y From th aforegoing discussion and the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the invention provides an improved `power actuated crumbing mechanism which may be rapidly and Vselectively swung to and from operain the crank 74 is tive position, with such positioning movement of the crumbing mechanism being expeditiously controlled from the machine operators work area. It will also be seen that the invention provides a crumbing mechanism of the above described type in conjunction with rotation multiplying linkage which provides for the adequate pivotal movement of the crumbingV mechanism to and from working position with a relatively small sized reciprocal type motor unit for actuating purposes, thus making it practical to pivotally power such a crumbing mechanism by means of a hydraulic motor unit, and without unduly increasing the bulkiness of the excavating machine. In addition, the invention provides a crumbing mechanism of the aforementioned type which is adjustable and which is adjustably mounted on a boom of the machine, so that it may extend downwardly at various distances with respect to such boom structure and the associated excavating wheel.

The terms and expressions which'have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of any of the features described or shown, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible Within the scopeof the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a crumbing mechanism for excavating machines and the like, and including a generally horizontally extending support structure, a generally elongated crumbing shoe pivotally mounted at one end on said support, a reciprocable hydraulic motor unit mounted on said support, rotation multiplying linkage means mounted on said support and operatively connected to said motor unit and to said shoe for pivoting the latter in a generally vertical plane from operative position wherein said shoe is disposed generally below said support structure to inoperative position, wherein said shoe is disposed generally above said support structure, ls-aid linkage comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on said support, a crank secured at one end to said shaft and connectedat the other end thereof to said motor unit, an arm secured to said shaft and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom,

and a drag link pivotally connected at one end to said arm and pivotally connected at the other end to said shoe.

1, whereinsaid pivotal connection of said drag link to said shoe is disposed in vertical downwardly spaced relation to the pivotal connection of said shoe to said support-structure when said shoe is in said operative position, whereby the pivotal connection of said drag link to said shoe moves in a path upwardly and around the pivotal connection of said shoe to said support structure upon movement of said shoe to said inoperative position.

3. In a crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 1, including means on said crumbing shoe adapted for engagement with said rotation multiplying linkage to limit the maximum pivotal movement of said crumbing shoe from operative position.

2. In a crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim Y 4. In a crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said crumbing shoe is pivotally mounted on the rearward end of said support, the center of gravity of said crumbing shoe lbeing disposed forwardly of a Vertical plane passing through the pivotal connection of said crumbing shoe to said support when said crumbing shoe is in said inoperative pivoted position.

5. In a crumbing mechanism in laccordance with claim l, including means on said support structure for adjusting in a vertical direction the position of the pivotal connection of said crumbing shoe Ito said support structure.

6. In -a crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 5, wherein said drag link comprises means for adjusting in a lengthwise direction with respect to said link, the position of the pivotal connection between said link and said arm upon said adjustment of the position of said pivotal connection of said shoe .to said support structure.

7. In a crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 6, wherein said crumbing shoe comprises a generally horizontally extending portion adapted for engagement with the lowennost surface of an associated excavation,

said portion being pivotally mounted at one end to said crumbing shoe, and means for adjusting the position of the other end of said portion with respect to said shoe.

8. In a crumbing mechanism for excavating machines and the like including a generally horizontally extending support, an elongated crumbing shoe pivotally mounted at one end adjacent one end of said support and adapted to depend therefrom when in operative position, a re- Y ciprocable double-acting hydraulic motor unit pivotally connected at one end to said support, rotation multiply-v ing linkage means mounted on said support and being operatively connected to said motor unit and to said shoe for pivoting the latter in a generally vertical plane about its connection to said support upon actuation of said motor unit, said linkage means comprising a shaft extending generally transverselyof said support, bearing means rotatably mounting said shaft on said support, a crank element secured at one end to said shaft and at the other end being pivotally connected to said motor unit, an arm extending generally radially outwardly from said shaft, said arm having a greater length than said crank element, a drag link pivoted at one end to said arm` and at the other end to said shoe, said pivotal connection of said link to said shoe being disposed downwardly from the pivotal connection of said shoe to said support when said shoe is in said operative position, and means on said shoe for limiting the maximum pivotal movement of the latter out of operative position.

9. In a crumbing mechanism in accordance with claim 8, including means for locking said crumbing shoe in said operative position, said means being adjustably mounted on said shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

